Loom harness

ABSTRACT

Loom harness and specifically nose guides and heddle rod supports are described made from a plurality of molded abrasion resistant synthetic plastic parts which have snap together - snap apart connections for quick and easy removal and replacement on the top and bottom rails of a heddle frame. The components can be molded from the same material or from different materials having different wear characteristics, with interposed spacers, if desired, and with identical halves for nose guides providing ease of assembly at reduced cost, reduction of in-plant storage requirements for repair or replacement, and for selectivity of action, attendant upon the specific composition of the components.

United States Patent Kramer et al.

[ Aug. 26, 1975 Assignee:

Filed:

Parks, both of Greenville, SC.

Steel Heddle Manufacturing Company, Greenville, SC.

May 22, 1974 Appl. No.: 472,344

[52] US. Cl. 139/92 [51] DO3C 9/06 [58] Field of Search 139/91.92,88.82; 28/54; 24/115 G, 168, 248 SL [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,611,396 12/1926 Wattic [39/88 2,364,982 12/1944 Kaufmann...139/92 3,251,383 /1966 Kaufmann 139/91 3,417,787 12/1968 Kaufmann 139/913,417,788 12/1968 Kramer 139/92 3,470,920 /1969 Kaufmann et al. 139/91FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 430,615 8/1967 Switzerland 139/911,400,577 4/1965 France 24/248 SL 1,300,273 6/1962 France 24/248 SL1,199 1866 United Kingdom 139/92 344,384 3/1960 Switzerland 139/92574,573 3/1958 Italy 139/92 Primary Examiner.lames Kee Chi Attorney,Agent, or FirmZachary T. Wobensmith, 2nd; Zachary T. Wobensmith, 111

Loom harness and specifically nose guides and heddle rod supports aredescribed made from a plurality of molded abrasion resistant syntheticplastic parts which have snap together snap apart connections for quickand easy removal and replacement on the top and bottom rails of a heddleframe. The components can be molded from the same material or fromdifferent materials having different wear characteristics, withinterposed spacers, if desired, and with identical halves for noseguides providing ease of assembly at reduced cost, reduction of in-plantstorage requirements for repair or replacement, and for selectivity ofaction, attendant upon the specific composition of the components.

ABSTRACT 11' Claims, Drawing Figures .0M RN S BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to loomharness and more particularly to attachments for the top and bottomrails of the harness frame of a weaving loom serving as nose guides toprotect the rails and for the connection of the heddle supporting rods.

2. Description of the Prior Art I It has heretofore been proposed toprovide supports intermediate their ends for the top and'bottom heddlerods, these supports being of various types including fixed. supports,adjustable supports and resilient supports. In the wooden railspreviously employed there was usually sufficient thickness of the railto permit openings for bolts and'the like.

With metallic rails formed as extrusions, these are in some instancestoo thin to permit of penetrating the rail without unduly weakening it.

In thepriorpatents of C. F. Kramer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,788 and F. H.Kaufmann et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,470,920, molded synthetic plasticsupports for the heddle rods is shown having a one piece body which arevery satisfactory but lackthe ease of application and removal of thepresent constructions, the capabilities of use of different'ma'terials,and reduced in-plant storage requirements.

It has also-been proposed in the Swiss patent No. 430,615 to E. FrohlichAG; to construct nose guides of two pieces of solid cross section andheld together by screws. The two parts are not interchangeable and thescrews can work loose because of vibration.

Kaufmann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,251,383 shows a one piece molded syntheticplastic nose guide but this is of limited use.

Kaufmann, U.S. Pat. No. 2,601,873, Blickenstorfer,

U.S. Pat. No. 2,674,274 and Heller, U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,577, show stripsof material applied to harness frame rails for protective purposes, butdo not have available the versatility or selection of differentcomponents with quick attachability and detachability.

'- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide an attachment for the top and bottom rails ofheddle frames of weaving looms made of meeting and interlocking partsand of a synthetic plastic material which reduces the tendency of therails to abrade, which is disposed in encircling relation to the railand which can be positioned at any desired location along the rail andwhich is retained in that position against movement along the rail,andwhich can be employed for retaining the heddle rod intermediate itsends with respect to its associated r'ail. I

It is a furtherobject of the present invention't'o provide an attachmentfor the rails of heddle frames of weaving looms and in which theattachmentmay have one margin hinged, slidably connected or securedtogether with the other end having a snap together connection. 7

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attachmentfor the rails of heddle frames of weaving looms composed in certainforms of a pair of identical pieces disposed in encircling-relation tothe rail.

- Itis a further object of the present invention to provide anattachment for the rails of heddle frames of weaving looms which isdisposed in encircling relation to the rail, which may be fixedlypositioned longitudinally of the rail and which may include a holdingspring.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the description and claims. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic featuresof the invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a heddle frame embodying the mainfeatures of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken approximately onthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an interior view in elevation of one of the components of thenose guide and heddle rod support shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an interior view of another of the components of the noseguide and heddle rod support shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation] view of another embodiment of the presentinvention and specifically of a nose guide;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken approximately on theline 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an interior view in elevation of the components of the noseguide shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical sectiontaken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an interior view, in elevation, somewhat similar to FIG. 9 ofa nose guide component, showing a further embodiment of the inventionand with an interior spring;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line12-12 of FIG. 11 mounted on a heddle frame rail and with a similar noseguide component engaged therewith;

FIG. 13 is a view in elevation showing the manner of assembling thecomponents;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line14-14 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line15-15 of FIG. 13. I

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularlyto FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a heddle frame 10 is shown of wellknown construction comprising top and bottom rails 11 and side struts12, preferably of wood, connecting the ends of the rails 11 andmaintaining them in spaced parallel 3 relation. The side struts 12 canbe held in engagement by screws (not shown)..

The rails 11 are advantageously made of lightweight I In accordance withthe invention, and in one prev ferred embodiment, the rail attachment 25includes a plurality of separate sections, such as at 26 and 27, ofmolded synthetic plastic, attachably and detachably connected and heldtogether as hereinafter explained.

The sections 26 and 27 can be made of any suitable materials, it beingpreferred to employ a synthetic plastic material having a lowcoefficient of friction when in rubbing contact with metal rails.Suitable materials include the plastic available under the trade nameDelrin, and nylon, both of which are tough, resilient, inert and freefrom any tendency to soil the fabric being woven. The sections 26 and 27can be made of the same or of different materials with one of greaterhardness than the other, if desired, or varied over a hardness range andselected within that range as desired.

The section 26, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, includes a wall portion28, normally vertically disposed in use, with its inner face 29 forengagement with one of the faces 14 of the rail 11, and with an inwardlyextending horizontal rib 30 for engagement with the inner face of one ofthe rails 11 and having a vertical book 31, for purposes to beexplained, extending along its length.

The section 26, beyond the rib 30 has a wall portion 32, formed as acontinuation of the wall portion 28, with side and intermediatestrengthening ribs 33 and 34 and a transverse rib 35 to provide abearing surface and support for the heddle rod 17. The rib 35 has aplurality of openings 36 for the reception of fasteners 37 which may berivets, pins in frictional engagement in the openings 36, or any otherdesired fasteners.

The section 26, at its other margin has a wall portion 38, formed as'acontinuation of the wall portion 28 with an inner transverse rib 39, andcentral vertical and side vertical ribs 40 and 41 extending therefrom toa transverse end rib 42.

The wall portion 38, between the ribs 39, 40. 42 and 41 and between theribs 39, 41, 42 and 40 is provided with projecting parts of snap typeconnections, shown as a pair of projections 44 each having a centralopening 45 therethrough with an enlarged outer end 46. The opening 45 atthe end opposite the enlarged end 46 has an enlargement at 43. The outerend 46 of each projection 44 is enlarged and the enlargement inseparated by a transverse slot 48 and the bifurcated portions thusobtained are enlarged with rounded surfaces acting as cams to facilitateinsertion and removal as hereinafter explained.

The section 27, shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, includes a wall portion 50,normally vertically disposed in use, with its inner face 51 forengagement with one of the faces 14 of the rail 11 and with an inwardlyextending horizontal portion 52 of increased thickness and prohook 54extending therealong for engagement with the vertical rib 31.

The section 27, at its other margin has a wall portion 56 formed as acontinuation of the wall portion 50 with an inner transverse rib 57 andcentral vertical and side vertical ribs 58 and 59 extending therefrom toa transverse end rib 60.

The wall portion 56 is provided with a socket which includes a wall '61with a central opening 62, the opening 62 being enlarged at its outerend 63.

The attachment 25 has an outer terminal face 64 with outer convergingfaces 65 extending to the face 64 to facilitate the separating actiondesired of nose guides.

The sections 26 and 27 are preferably assembled to a rail 11 by engagingthe hook 54 on the rib 31 and, with a rail between the faces 29 and 51,moving the opposite ends of the sections 26 and 27 toward each other andpressure is applied to force the ends 46 of the projections 44 throughthe openings 62, the ends 46 being retained in the openings 63. The wallportions 42 and 60 are in engagement and the attachment 25 is held ontothe rail 11.

The heddle rods 17 with heddles 21 thereon may be attached in advance tothe section 26 or may be mounted after mounting of the attachment 25 inthe frame 10. The heddle rods 17 are preferably of alength so as toterminate inwardly of the inner faces of the side rails 12 to facilitateinsertion.

If it is desired to remove the attachment 25, the sections 26 and 27 maybe separated by the use of a screw driver or the like to retract theenlarged portions 46 of the projections 44 through the opening 62. Theattachment 25 can then readily be separated from the rail 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, in the embodiment of theinvention there is shown the heddle frame 10 similar to that previouslydescribed.

The rail attachment 25a there shown serves as a nose guide and includesa pair of separate identically shaped sections 70, of molded syntheticplastic as previously referred to.

Each section includes a wall portion 71, vertically disposed in use,with its inner face 72 for engagement with one of the faces 14 of a rail11 and with a marginal rib 73 having an inner ledge 74 for engagementwith the inner face 15 of one of the rails 11 and having a plurality ofspaced openings 75 with inner portions 76 of reduced diameter.

The section 70, in spaced relation from the ledge 74 has a transverserib 78 with a ledge 79. The rib 78 can be provided with a notch 80 forthe reception of one end of a zig-zag spring 81 which has an upperportion extending horizontally from the notch 80 the remainder of thewidth of the attachment, an intermediate portion 83 extendinghorizontally in a reverse direction the width of the attachment, and arail engaging portion 84 extending horizontally in the same direction asthe upper portion, in engagement with the face 16 of the rail 11.

The rib 78 is provided, spaced inwardly from one end, with a snapprojection 85, similar to the projection 44, and an opening 86, andenlargement 87 similar to the opening 62 and its enlargement 63.

The wall 71, spaced outwardly from the rib 78 is provided with aterminal rib 89. The rib 89 is provided with an opening 90 andenlargement 91, similar to the opening 86 and enlargement 87. The rib 89is also provided with a snap projection 92, similar to the'projection85, for insertion through the opening 90,.aridengagement inthe enlargement 91.

It will be noted that the construction described is such that twosections 70, in facing relation can have the snap projection 85 of onesection inserted into the opening 86 of the other section and the snapprojection 92 inserted into the opening 90 and engaged in theenlargement 91.

The two sections 70, at the inner end, can be secured together in anydesired manner by fasteners 93, such as rivets, interengaging screws orthe like, inserted in the openings 75.

The mode of application to and removal from the rails 11 is similar tothat previously described except for the insertion, prior to engagementof the snap projections 85 and 92, of the spring 81 between the ledge 79and the outer face 16 of the rail 11. The action insofar as thestructure beyond the rails 11 is concerned is similar to that previouslydescribed.

Referring now to FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14, the embodiment of theinvention there showncan be utilized in the heddle frame previouslydescribed.

The rail attachment 25b there shown, like the attachment 25a, serves asa nose guide and includes a pair of separate identically shaped sections95, of molded synthetic plastic as previously referred to.

Each section 95 includes a wall portion 96, normally verticallydisposed, in use, with its inner face portion 97 for engagement with aside face 14 of a rail 1 1. The wall 96 at one end and extendingthereacross a distance preferably less than half the width has aninwardly extending rib 97 for engagement with the face of the rail 11.The rib 97 has extending therefrom an outer rib 98 with an inclinedouter face 99 and an inner rib 100 providing a pivotal locking space 105therebetween.

The wall 96 at the same end and extending thereacross a distancepreferably less than half the width has an outer rib 101 with an outerinclined face 102, and a bottom rib portion 103 with a rib 104 extendingtherefrom for engagement in the space between the ribs 98 and 100 of ameeting section 95.

The wall 96 has a plurality of transversely spaced interior cylindricalportions 106 and 107. The portion 106 has a snap projection 108 similarto the snap projections 44 and 85 previously referred to, and theportion 107 has an opening 109 and enlargement 110, similar to theopenings 62 and 86 and enlargements 63 and 91 previously described.

The wall 96 is provided with a transverse rib 11 1, and side ribs 112which extend to end ribs 113.

inwardly of the end ribs 113, a fastener opening 114 is provided, havingan outer enlargement 115, and spaced therefrom a snap projection 116similar to the snap projections 44, 85 and 108 previously referred to.

The space 117 between the inner ends of the end ribs 113 provides forinsertion of a screw driver, if desired.

The outer terminal ends of the walls 96 are inclined inwardly as at 118to facilitate the action of the nose guide b.

A molded plastic spring 120 can be employed having a tapered head 121for engagement with the cylindrical portions 106 and 107 and an endstrip portion 122 for engagement with the face 16 of the rail 11. A pin123 formed on the strip portion 122 can extend into an opening 124 inthe rail 11 to hold. the spring 120 against displacement duringassembly.

Two of the sections are assembled to a rail 11, preferably by engagingone section 95 with the spring in place, and then, with the othersection 95 in facing relation thereto swinging the other section toengage the ribs 104 in the locking spaces 105. The inner end of theattachment 25b is thus securely held.

The snap projections 108 are inserted through the openings 109 andengaged in the enlargements 110. The snap projections 116 are insertedthrough the openings 114 and engaged in the enlargements 115.

The nose guide 28b is thus securely held on the rail 11 but can beremoved, if desired, for replacement of the nose guide 28b or onesection 95 thereof by the use of a screw driveras previously mentioned.

It will thus be seen that rail attachments have been disclosed withwhich the objects of the invention are attained.

We claim:

1. The combination with a heddle frame having top and bottom rails, aplurality of heddles in said frame and means in said frame forsupporting said heddles of a rail attachment intermediate the ends ofthe rails and having a portion extending outwardly therebeyond in themain plane of the rails,

said rail attachment comprising a body having two unitary facingsections disposed in surrounding relation to the rail and extendinginwardly and outwardly of said rail,

each of said sections being of molded synthetic plastic material,

each of said sections having connecting members inwardly of the rail,and

separable connecting members outwardly of the rail,

a wall portion extending outwardly along a side face of the frame rail,and

inner and outer end portions beyond said frame rail for said connectingmembers, and

said separable connecting members comprising a snap connector integralwith one section and in removable engagement in an opening in the othersection.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said first mentionedconnecting members are separable.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said first mentionedconnecting members are hingedly connected.

4. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said first mentionedconnecting members are slidably connected.

5. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said first mentionedconnecting members comprise permanent connections.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said outwardly extendingportion provides a nose guide.

7. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said snap connector hasan enlarged bifurcated head.

8. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each of said sections isa duplicate of the other.

9. The combination defined in claim 1 in which resilient means isprovided interiorly of said body in engagement with one of the edges ofthe rail.

10. The combination defined in claim 1 in which 7 8 one of said sectionshas a portion extending inwardly said separable connecting memberscomprise a pluof the and rality of snap connectors integral with onesection said heddle supporting means comprises a heddle for en a emem ina cones Ondin luram of supporting rod carried by said inwardly extendingg I p g p y portion of aid section Openings In the Other SBCtlOfl.

11. The combination defined in claim 1 in which

1. The combination with a heddle frame having top and bottom rails, aplurality of heddles in said frame and means in said frame forsupporting said heddles of a rail attachment intermediate the ends ofthe rails and having a portion extending outwardly therebeyond in themain plane of the rails, said rail attachment comprising a body havingtwo unitary facing sections disposed in surrounding relation to the railand extending inwardly and outwardly of said rail, each of said sectionsbeing of molded synthetic plastic material, each of said sections havingconnecting members inwardly of the rail, and separable connectingmembers outwardly of the rail, a wall portion extending outwardly alonga side face of the frame rail, and inner and outer end portions beyondsaid frame rail for said connecting members, and said separableconnecting members comprising a snap connector integral with one sectionand in removable engagement in an opening in the other section.
 2. Thecombination defined in claim 1 in which said first mentioned connectingmembers are separaBle.
 3. The combination defined in claim 2 in whichsaid first mentioned connecting members are hingedly connected.
 4. Thecombination defined in claim 2 in which said first mentioned connectingmembers are slidably connected.
 5. The combination defined in claim 2 inwhich said first mentioned connecting members comprise permanentconnections.
 6. The combination defined in claim 1 in which saidoutwardly extending portion provides a nose guide.
 7. The combinationdefined in claim 1 in which said snap connector has an enlargedbifurcated head.
 8. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each ofsaid sections is a duplicate of the other.
 9. The combination defined inclaim 1 in which resilient means is provided interiorly of said body inengagement with one of the edges of the rail.
 10. The combinationdefined in claim 1 in which one of said sections has a portion extendinginwardly of the rail, and said heddle supporting means comprises aheddle supporting rod carried by said inwardly extending portion of saidsection.
 11. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said separableconnecting members comprise a plurality of snap connectors integral withone section for engagement in a corresponding plurality of openings inthe other section.